Fashion Designers, Students, Artists, and Creatives of all types are invited to compete!

Grand Prairie, TX (July 24, 2019) – After a successful Texas launch in 2018, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie has announced that the popular “Ripley’s Trashy Fashion Show” will return in 2019, and the search for contestants is on.

While the world’s top designers showcase their new lines during New York’s famous Fashion Week (September 5 – 13, 2019), budding designers in the Dallas – Ft. Worth area will take the stage displaying their talent by transforming everyday items into wearable art.

Previous contestants have used newspaper, shower curtains, coffee filters, and even paintbrushes to create their original, wearable garment. All winners will become a “Ripley’s Feature,” and appear on Ripley’s social media and popular blog.

PRIZES

• Grand Prize Winner: $1,000
• First Runner-Up: $500
• Second Runner-Up: $250
• All contestants will also receive a Ripley’s swag bag

Last year’s Grand Prairie winner, Ikkendra Oliobo, created a party dress from silver Diet Pepsi cans, muslin fabric, eyelets, plastic, glue, and shoelaces. First runner-up, Stephanie Salas designed a mermaid-style dress made out of black construction bags detailed with rope, CD/DVD pieces, plastic grocery bags, and bottle caps.

Contestants must register by August 30, 2019, and plan to attend a dress rehearsal before hitting the runway on Saturday, September 7. Registration, contest rules, and more information can be found at Ripleys.com/GrandPrairie/Fashion.

Want to enter “Ripley’s Trashy Fashion Show” and start your design career?

Deadline to Register:                                              August 30, 2019

Registration Web Site:                                            Ripleys.com/GrandPrairie/Fashion

Ripley’s Trashy Fashion Show Runway Date:    September 7, 2019

Editor’s Note: Photos of last year’s event available: Dropbox 

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MEDIA CONTACTS
Suzanne Smagala-Potts

Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010 Cell: 727-439-0136

Debbie Evans
Public Relations
debbie@evansmarketingpartners.com
Cell: 410-303-8016

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 10 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.

The post Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie to Host Trashy Fashion Show appeared first on Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Jersey Boy

John Graziano grew up on the outskirts of Newark, New Jersey, where he discovered his passion for creativity and aptitude for art.

As a teenager, Graziano visited the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in St. Augustine, Florida, and was intrigued at how Robert Ripley made a living by telling strange and unbelievable stories in cartoon form. At the age of 15, he submitted samples of his work to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and received an encouraging reply to pursue his education and to reach out again in the future.

Most would be deterred, but Graziano appreciated the advice and acted on it. 

He majored in Illustration at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art in New Jersey. Following graduation, he started working for a T-shirt company as an illustrator. After 11 years, he contacted Ripley’s again inquiring about a cartoonist position.

Believe It or Not! Ripley’s was looking for a fresh hand to draw the strip and Jersey boy John Graziano got the gig. He has been illustrating the “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” cartoon ever since!

Believe It!

Fast forward 15 years, and Graziano is still doing what he loves, hand drawing the cartoon every day for Believe It or Not! fans, just as he enjoyed when he was a kid.

“When you get up in the morning, and you’re doing what you love to do, you feel like you’re not working.” – John Graziano, Cartoonist, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

It’s this dedication that led Graziano to the 73rd Annual NCS Reuben Awards. As only the seventh artist to take up the pen since Robert Ripley, Graziano was a 2018 NCS Divisional Award nominee at the Awards held on May 18th, 2019 in Huntington Beach, CA. The only other Ripley’s cartoonist to achieve (and win) such an honor was Paul Frehm in 1976 from the National Cartoonist Society.

Graziano was nominated in the category of Variety Entertainment, a new category this year to showcase the unique illustrations of newspaper, magazine, and online comic features that contain puzzles, games, activities, trivia, history, or instruction.

Steeped in History

Robert Ripley’s first “Believe It or Not!” cartoon appeared in the New York Globe on December 19, 1918–over 100 years ago, launching an adventurous career of curating stories of oddities from around the world. The hand-drawn cartoon has continued over time and is the longest-running syndicated cartoon in history.

Congratulations John Graziano on your nomination! You’ve truly given illustration to the unbelievable and have proven that even the wildest childhood dream can come true. Believe It or Not!

*View more of Graziano’s illustrations at www.ripleys.com/cartoons/

Media Contact
Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345 – 8010 | Cell: 727- 439 – 0136

ABOUT RIPLEY ENTERTAINMENT
Ripley Entertainment Inc. is the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 14 million people visit its over 100 attractions in 10 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs countries all around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.

The post Cartoonist, John Graziano, 2018 NCS Divisional Award Nominee! appeared first on Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Unframed and unbelievable, the pages of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odd Is Art are filled with the most unconventional pieces curated from the Ripley collection and beyond.

Designed as an elegant art book and eclectic in nature, Odd Is Art showcases the most visually stunning and technically impressive Ripley pieces, plus additions from outside artists. From laundry lint iconography and sculptures made of salt, to an intricately carved human skull, some of the most fascinating pieces of art from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! collection are celebrated within the 144 pages of Odd Is Art.

Aside from strange mediums and unusual techniques, Odd Is Art also features inspiring stories of artists who have overcome obstacles others would view as total roadblocks.

…hardcover collection of photographs of unusual, bizarre, and striking objects… – Kirkus Reviews

Artist Zuly Sanguino of Bogota, Colombia, was born with a rare genetic disorder that left her with underdeveloped arms and legs. At the age of 18, she began studying art and now refers to herself as a “no arms, no legs, no limits artist,” painting colorful works now on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attractions.

Odd Is Art goes on sale May 8, 2018, at all major booksellers.

Review copies, media assets, and further information available on request.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Suzanne Smagala-Potts – US
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010
Cell: 727-439-0136

Melanie Greco – Canada
Public Relations Consultant
melanie@getinkpr.ca
Office: 647-456-2653

The post ‘Odd Is Art’ Now on Sale! appeared first on Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley’s is hosting TWO Trashy Fashion Shows and is on the search for contestants.

Grand Prairie, TX & Baltimore, MD (March 9, 2018) Do you fancy yourself a fashionista? Can you spot a diamond in the rough? If so, Ripley’s wants to put your design skills to the test!

What is a Trashy Fashion Show?

In 2012, Ripley’s hosted their very first Trashy Fashion show. The challenge was simple: create a wearable design that is made from trash and recycled materials. Ripley’s is bringing the contest back and with it some amazing prizes! The Grand Prize winner will receive $1,000. The first and second runner ups will also receive a cash prizes of $500 for first runner up and $250 for second runner up. All contestants will receive a Ripley’s swag bag of merchandise just for participating.

All winners will become a “Ripley Feature” and appear on Ripley’s social media and featured on their popular blog. There is also the possibility of being highlighted in their best-selling book and the winning garment becoming a permanent exhibit displayed in a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium.

How to Enter  

To enter you must create an original, wearable design made from everyday items not typically used in garment making.

Grand Prairie fashionistas should submit design no later than March 31, 2018. Submit a video or photo of your design to Ripleys.com/GrandPrairie/Fashion. Ripley’s will be holding a Grand Prairie Trashy Fashion & Art Show where your design will get a chance to make its debut. This event will take place on April 14, 2018 at 11am.

Baltimore fashionistas should submit design no later than May 21, 2018. Submit a video or photo of your design to Ripleys.com/baltimore/trashy-fashion. Ripley’s will be holding a Baltimore Trashy Fashion & Art Show where your design will get a chance to make its debut. This event will take place on May 26, 2018 at 1 pm.

There will be a panel of judges who will be scoring based on creative use of material, model’s runway walk, garment movability, and overall design. 

Previous Winners 

At the young age of 15, Kennedy Truster won the student prize her party dress made entirely out of newspaper. Analise Barnard and co-designer Amani Grant won first prize in the twelve and under division for a party dress and headband were created entirely from coffee filters. The 17 and up category was won by Masha Sardari who had two entries. The first was a formal, knee length gown made from used paint brushes and paper bags.  Her second entry was a cocktail dress made from a used shower curtain.

Prizes

1st place: $1000

2nd place: $500

3rd place: $250

If you think you have what it takes to become crowned the next winner of Ripley’s Trashy Fashion, submit your entry before each city’s deadline!

Grand Prairie – Ripleys.com/GrandPrairie/Fashion / Baltimore –  Ripleys.com/baltimore/trashy-fashion

If you have any questions about the contest, please send an email to Suzanne Smagala at smagala@ripleys.com. Good luck!

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
O: 407-345-8010 C: 727-439-0136
smagala@ripleys.com

Rachel Rotella
General Manager
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – Grand Prairie
972-263-2391
rotella@ripleys.com

Sarah Mitchell
General Manager
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – Baltimore
443-615-7878
mitchell@ripleys.com

About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Baltimore is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 11 countries each year.  In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.

The post Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie & Baltimore to Host Trashy Fashion Show! appeared first on Ripley Entertainment Inc.